AUBURN, Alabama -- The plan has been implemented, and now it's time to see what Auburn can do Saturday.

"Very solid practice today," coach Gus Malzahn said Wednesday. "Really, what stood out to me was our kids' focus. You can tell it's getting closer to the game. There was a high level of intensity, a high level of focus, and they were excited about practice, so that was definitely encouraging this close to the game."

Auburn practiced in pants and shoulder pads Wednesday and will hit the practice fields again Thursday before heading to the team hotel in Montgomery Friday -- and back to Auburn on Saturday -- in the hours leading up to kickoff against Arkansas Saturday.

Malzahn said Monday on his radio show Auburn had only one bad day of practice during preseason camp. Motivation from a 34-31 loss to Florida State in the final 13 seconds of the BCS National Championship has served as the under current to the Tigers' preparations for the season opener.

"The fact that we've got a lot of veteran guys helps with that," Malzahn said. "You've got to bring yourself along throughout the week. You've got to focus on your job and the little things, offensively and defensively. As it gets closer, that's when you've got to start programming your mind and your body. You've got to get rest. You've got to get hydrated and everything that goes with that. I hope that it's a positive and a plus for us that we do have a lot of guys that have experience in game type situations and first-game-of-the-year type of stuff."